We need some second thoughts on the second wave
Not a single country has experienced another sustained surge of excess deaths from the Covid-19 pandemic
SA is currently not in a Covid-19 crisis. That is not to say people are not still dying. Over the past two weeks we have seen a daily average of 73 deaths attributed to the virus (officially). Rather, it is to say the current number of deaths does not represent a singular and unique cause of death, distinct from all others.
On average this country sees 78 daily deaths from tuberculosis (TB), 69 from diabetes and 140 from unnatural causes (vehicle accidents, homicides and so on). Each and every death is undoubtedly a tragedy, and something we must do our utmost to prevent. However, it would seem somewhat hypocritical — and perhaps even discriminatory — to remain in lockdown (albeit only at level 1) and impose extremely stringent social distancing requirements in fear of Covid-19, when similar actions are not taken in response to TB, for example...
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